Combined ruler



{No Model.)

E. BALTZLEY.

L COMBINED RULER, BLOTTER, AND PAPER CUTTER. No. 375,722. Patented Jan. 3,1888.

N PETERS, Phm-Lixm n w, Washinglun, oc

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWIN BALTZLEY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

COMBINED RULER, BLOTTER, AND PAPER-CUTTER.

GPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 375,722, dated January 3, 1888.

Application filed May 10, 1887. Serial No. 237,742.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN BALTZLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Combined Ruler, Blotter, and Paper-Cutter; and I do de clare the following to be a full, clear, and ex act description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon,whieh form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to a combinationblotter and pencil-eraser holder, ruler, papercutter, and envelope-opener.

The object of the invention is the construction of a ruler which will be simple and cheap and which will have means for the ready attachment of a blottcnwhich will be within convenient reach for use to blot a line drawn by means of the ruler, and to have combined with such ruler an envelopeopener and penoil-eraser which are always on hand and can be found when desired.

The improvement consists in having combined with a ruler provisions for securing a blotter thereto-such as a clasp or clasps which may form apart of or be separate from and secured to the rnleran envelope-opener, and devices for holdingapencil-eraser. The edge of the ruler is turned up and prevents blurring of the lines when drawn by an ordinary pen and ink, besides forming a very effective paper-cutter and serving to strengthen and stiffen the ruler. The ruler or envelope-opener, and the pencil-eraser holder are preferably formed of a single piece of sheet material, although I do not wish to confine myself to this exact construction.

The improvement further consists in the novel features which will now be described, referring to the accompanying drawings by "letter, which form a part of this specification,

in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of a combinationruler constructed in accordance with and embodying my invention; Fig. 2, a transverse section on the lineX X of Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a

the ruler.

(No model.)

crosssection of a modified form; and Fig. 4 shows sections of several forms of rulers.

The ruler A, which is preferably formed of sheet material suitable for thepurpose, has the outer edge, or, turned up either straight, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, or curved, as shown by the sections in Fig. 4.. The edge of this up turned portion forms the ruling and papercutting edge, and may be straight, as shown by full lines, or serrated, as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 1. One end is provided with the envelope-opener Qandthe opposite endhas the pencil-eraser holder composed of the band D, and the stop (1, punched up from the body of the ruler. The pencileraser E is held between the band and the ruler and is limited in its movement by the stop (I. The blotterholding devices or clasps B are secured at one end to the ruler, and the opposite ends are adapted to clasp the blotter between them and They may be separated from and secured to the ruler, but preferably form an integral part thereof and are cut from the body of the ruler. The free ends may curve down, so as to bite into the blotter and hold it more securely in place; or they may curve upward, which construction is preferred, as it permits of the ready entrance of the blotter between the clasps and the ruler.

In practice the ruler with its upturned edge, the envelope-opener, the clasps, and pencileraser holder will be made from a single piece of sheet material-such as metal-and will be suitably ornamented and can be used as an advertising medium. In ruling,the upturned edge is placed uppermost, and when the ruling is done the ruler is lifted and carried forward a short distance, which brings the blotter in position for drying the line. For cutting paper the upturned edge is placed directly upon the paper and the paper is cut in the usual manner. The envelope-opener and the pencil-eraser are used in the well-known manner, which will readily suggest itself.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

1. The combination, with the ruler having one edge turned up and away from the plane of the body of the ruler, of the clasps secured at one end to the ruler between its edges and having the other ends free and adapted to hold a blotter, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the ruler having one edge upturned, as shown, of the pencileraser holder and the Clasps, substantially as set forth.

3. The herein shown and described combination paper-cutter, ruler, and blotter-holder, composed of a single piece of sheet material substantially of the form shown, having one edge turned up, an envelope-opener at one end and the pencil-eraser holder at the opposite end consisting of the band and stop and the clasps, substantially as set forth.

4. The herein-described ruler having clasps cut therefrom, for the purpose specified, and the envelope-opener at one end made with the ruler, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in 20 presence of two witnesses.

EDWIN BALTZLEY.

\Vitnesses:

J. S. BRADFORD, M. A. BALLTNGER. 

